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zaterdag 5 januari 2013

Anna Faris has joined the ranks of big-screen talent taking on small-screen projects.

The House Bunny" and "Scary Movie 4" star Faris has been cast to star in "Mom," the CBS pilot from "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory" executive producer Chuck Lorre, individuals familiar with the situation told TheWrap on Friday.

Faris will play a newly sober single mom who attempts to pull her life together in California's Napa Valley. (Which could pose a problem, given the region's prodigious wine output.)

The half-hour, multi-camera comedy, which has received a pilot production order from a spec script, is executive-produced by Lorre and Eddie Gorodetsky (who's served as a producer on "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men"). The pair are also writing, along with Gemma Baker ("Two and a Half Men"). Baker is also a producer on the project.

"[He said] that [previous X Factor winners] had written bad albums and that's fair enough, he's entitled to an opinion but we're talking about some brilliant song writers that I wrote the songs with," Cardle explained.

"I gave him some friendly advice to try and keep your mouth shut a little bit."

He continued: "I think he's brilliant. I think James is a very, very talented man, I'm sure he'll go very far."

When Robson asked whether the pair had made amends, Cardle added: "We haven't been for a pint yet [but] I'd love to go for a pint with him."

X Factor 2005 winner Shayne Ward also recently came forward to give Arthur advice about the music industry.

Speaking at the launch of the latest series of ITV's Dancing on Ice, Ward - who is to appear as a contestant on the show - said that the Teesside native should "listen and learn" as much as he can early on.

"My advice to him... Just learn as much as you can from the get go," said Ward. "It's easy to have the wrong type of people around you."

Frankie Dettori has been sent to the basement of the Celebrity Big Brother house, with Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt moving to the luxury section.

The upstairs housemates were told in tonight's (January 4) live episode that they would each have to nominate someone to be banished to the basement.

Frankie received four votes, coming from Gillian Taylforth, Lacey Banghard, Claire Richards and Rylan Clark, with the latter drawing a picture of a horse to cushion the blow.

Rylan was nominated twice, by Frankie and Tricia Penrose.

Leaving to a rendition of 'We love you Frankie', the jockey entered the basement-dwellers' garden enclosure and jumped into Razor Ruddock's arms.

Big Brother then announced to the basement contestants that Frankie would have to choose one housemate to replace him upstairs, with each of the candidates being allowed to argue why they should be picked.

Ryan Moloney was first to speak, surprising those around him by proposing that Razor rather than he himself should be chosen. The other housemates followed suit, all opting for Razor, with Razor trying to win Frankie over by calling him a "sporting legend".

However, Frankie defied expectations by picking Heidi and Spencer, saying: "A lady should not be here."

The Hills pair then joyfully entered the luxury area, commenting: "You guys have been living it up!"

HBO will air Ryan Murphy's adaptation of Larry Kramer's play "The Normal Heart" in 2014, the network announced.

The project will star Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo, who were also attached to the project when it was previously planned for a theatrical release. Murphy also directed Roberts in "Eat Pray Love." Matt Bomer will co-star.

Kramer is adapting his own Tony Award-winning play, which chronicles the early days of the AIDS crisis in New York City. The film will go into production later this year.

"We are so proud to be involved with this monumental project,” said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming. "Ryan has assembled an extraordinary cast to bring Larry Kramer’s landmark theatrical achievement to the screen for the first time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this important film to HBO.”

Vice President Biden could join the ranks of the reality TV elite if the supporters of a new petition have their way.

A petition published on the White House website is urging the Obama administration to authorize a recurring TV show on public-affairs cable network C-SPAN that would chronicle Biden's day-to-day antics as he interacts with the world at large.

The petition cites Biden's winning personality and unifying presence as a selling point for the potential ratings-grabber.

"Vice President Joe Biden has a demonstrated ability to bring people together, whether at the negotiating table or at the neighborhood diner," the petition reads. "We, therefore, urge the Obama Administration to authorize the production of a recurring C-SPAN television program featuring the daily activities and interactions of the Vice President with elected officials, foreign dignitaries and everyday American families."

The petition goes on to assert that the program would educate the public about the vice president's duties and responsibilities, but also provide "a glimpse of the lighthearted side of politics even in the midst of contentious and divisive national debates."

So far, the petition has received just over 600 signatures -- out of a goal of 25,000.

Biden, who's practically turned the verbal gaffe into an art form, wowed many with his theatrical flair at the swearing-in ceremony for the new senators on Thursday, which aired on CSPAN-2.

“I want you next to me,” Biden said to one senator’s wife. “You got a smile that lights up the chamber. Your smile lights up the room. Come on, sis, get in here."

A Biden reality show would no doubt provide plenty of opportunity for other such gems. To say nothing of the Very Special Episode when Obama tells Biden that he's not allowed to wash his Trans Am in the White House driveway anymore.

Following the two choice words he dropped last summer to make his opinion of "The Tonight Show" host blatantly clear, Kimmel has told Rolling Stone Contributing Editor Jonah Weiner that Leno's stand-up comedy isn't worth watching anymore.

"Leno hasn't been a good stand-up in 20 years," he said while driving past an LA comedy club where Leno performs every Sunday.

The insult does have one silver lining, though. At least Kimmel admits his late-night competition was funny at one point in his life.

Still, that was two decades ago and, according to Kimmel, he has only sold out since then.

"As a comedian, you can't not have disdain for what he's done," Kimmel continued. "He totally sold out. He was a master chef who opened a Burger King."

Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh says his upcoming film about Liberace is airing on HBO instead of getting a theatrical release because studios thought it was "too gay."

The upcoming "Behind the Candelebra" has Michael Douglas in a compulsively watchable performance as the celebrated pianist/vocalist, Matt Damon as his young lover, and Soderbergh directing. It comes, in other words, from a trio of A-listers. So why isn't it a theatrical release?

"Nobody would make it. We went to everybody in town," the "Traffic" and "Ocean's 11" director told on Friday, at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. "We needed $5 million. Nobody would do it."

Wait a minute, we said. Let us get this straight: No studio would budget $5 million for a movie with Damon and Douglas?

"They said it was too gay. Everybody. This was after 'Brokeback Mountain,' by the way. Which is not as funny as this movie. I was stunned. It made no sense to any of us."

Soderbergh has a theatrical movie coming out in February, "Side Effects," a thriller starring Channing Tatum and Rooney Mara. But the director said he's glad the Liberace film ended up on HBO.

"They're great and they're really good at what they do, and ultimately I think more people will see it, and that's all you care about," Soderbergh said. "Studios were going, 'We don't know how to sell it. They were scared.'"

Okay. But seriously: He was able to get a theatrical release for "The Girlfriend Experience," starring porn actress Sasha Grey, but not with Damon and Douglas?

"Well, for a million-and-a-half bucks," he said, referring to the "Girlfriend Experience" budget.

But that's not that far from $5 million.

"Yeah, I was surprised," he said.

HBO also announced Friday that it will air another gay-themed project that was once planned for theatrical release. The network said that it will air Ryan Murphy's adaptation of Larry Kramer's play "The Lonely Heart," starring Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo, next year.

"Behind the Candelabra" premieres this spring. After that, Soderbergh has vowed to retire. Maybe HBO can persuade him not too.

Tom Daley has commented on Jennifer Metcalfe's departure from Splash!.

The Hollyoaks actress was due to take part in Daley's reality diving competition, going head-to-head with celebrities including Sugababes Jade Ewen, The Only Way Is Essex's Joey Essex and comedian Omid Djalili.

However, recent rumours of an affair between her boyfriend Sylvain Longchambon and his Dancing on Ice partner, Coronation Street's Samia Ghadie, prompted Metcalfe to withdraw from the show.

Daley told The Sun that he felt Metcalfe would have benefitted from taking part in the programme.

"It is a shame she has pulled out," he said.

"If she had given it a go, it would have been quite a good thing for her to do, but things happen."

The Olympic diver has previously said that viewers will be "surprised" by the abilities of the 15 celebrities taking part.

BAD JUDGE (NBC, New!) - Chad Kultgen (ABC's "Southern Discomfort") has sold a single-camera comedy to the Peacock about "a hard-living, sexually unapologetic woman who plays with the law, and whose life on the edge is constantly in balance as she also happens to be a judge in the Criminal Court system." The Universal Television-based half-hour is based on an idea from actress Anne Heche, who will executive produce alongside Kultgen, Jill Messick and Gary Sanchez Productions' Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. (Deadline.com)

BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN (ABC, New!) - Chris Morgan ("Fast Five") and Jason Fuch ("Ice Age: Continental Drift") are set to team for a new drama based on the Disneyland and Disney World indoor/outdoor mine train roller coaster of the same name. Said effort - "a supernatural adventure drama" - is set up at ABC Studios with Morgan and Fuch writing and executive producing. (Variety.com)

GRAVEYARD QUEEN (NBC, New!) - Amanda Stevens's novels - about a beautiful young cemetery restorer cursed with the ability to see the dead who, at great risk to her physical and mental well-being, joins forces with a haunted homicide detective to solve a string of brutal murders in Charleston, South Carolina - are being developed as a drama at the Peacock. Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts ("Revenge") are penning the hour, which comes from the ABC Studios-based Mark Gordon Co. The company's Mark Gordon and Nicholas Pepper then will executive produce alongside said duo. (Deadline.com)

HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU (TBS) - The cable channel is the latest to take a stab at importing the U.K. series, in which two teams of celebrities and newsmakers humorously try to answer questions about current events and politics. Sam Seder hosted the recently completed pilot with comedians Sherrod Small and Michael Ian Black as team captains. Jimmy Mulville's Hat Trick Productions is behind the project, which was previously set up at NBC in March 2009. (Deadline.com)

I AM VICTOR (NBC, New!) - Mark Goffman ("White Collar") has landed a potential drama at the Peacock described as "House" as a divorce attorney. Said hour is based on Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbo's book of the same name with Katie Jacobs, Niclas Salomonsson and Television 360's Daniel Rappaport and Meghan Lyvers also serving as executive producers for Universal Television. (Deadline.com)

S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) - Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker are the latest additions to the pilot, a drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following the small screen adventures of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, better known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Henstridge will play "science whiz" Agent Gemma Simmons, while De Caestecker will play Agent Leo Fitz, "a technology guru." They join the previously cast Ming-Na Wen and Clark Gregg in the ABC Studios-based hour, from Jed Whedon, Joss Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. (THR.com)

SICK (The CW, New!) - Trey Callaway ("CSI: NY") and Sean Hood ("Conan the Barbarian") are set to team for a potential drama at the netlet set in "a world where youths are quarantined after a mysterious virus makes adults allergic to teenagers" and centers on "a band of teens who escape from their containment units and go on the run from authorities." They'll write and executive produce for a yet-to-be-determined studio. (Deadline.com)

TOMORROW PEOPLE, THE (The CW, New!) - Phil Klemmer ("Chuck") is looking to import Roger Price's U.K. series which follows "the story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers, including the ability to teleport and communicate with each other telepathically." Greg Berlanti ("Arrow"), Melissa Kellner Berman, Julie Plec ("The Vampire Diaries") and FremantleMedia North America's Tony Optican are also on board to executive produce the hour via the former's Warner Bros. Television-based Berlanti Productions. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED JOSH DUHAMEL PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Actor Josh Duhamel is developing a new drama at the Alphabet which "takes place behind the scenes of a daytime soap and explores the loves, lives, and lunacy at an on-the-bubble series, where the antics of the cast and crew are crazier than any of the plot lines they broadcast." Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts ("Revenge") are on board to pen the hour with the ABC Studios-based Mark Gordon Co. producing. Mark Gordon, Nicholas Pepper, Berg, Harberts, Duhamel and Oliver Hudson are the executive producers. (Deadline.com)

GEORGE WASHINGTON (NBC, New!) - Oscar-winning writer David Seidler ("The King's Speech") and director Barry Levinson ("Rain Man") are developing a period drama at the Peacock billed as "an intimate look at the enigmatic leader who became the father of a nation on one side of the Atlantic and a terrorist on the other, a man to be eliminated at all costs by the British Crown." Said hour is based Ron Chernow's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "Washington: A Life" with Levinson directing from a script by Seidler. They'll likewise executive produce alongside Tom Fontana, Carnival Films & Television's Gareth Neame and Baltimore Pictures' Jason Sosnoff for Universal Television. (Deadline.com)

IQUIT (NBC, New!) - Austin Winsberg ("Jake in Progress") has sold a new single-camera comedy to the Peacock about "five friends from UC Berkeley, who - seven years after graduation - find their lives affected in wildly different ways by the Internet: from a guy who made millions selling an app, to a girl who is famous on YouTube (but still works at the local burrito place), to a wannabe politician whose life has been completely ruined by Facebook." Universal Cable Productions-based Hypnotic is behind the half-hour with the company's Doug Liman, David Bartis, Gene Klein and Lindsay Sloane executive producing alongside Winsberg. (Deadline.com)

RAKE (FOX) - "Rescue Me" co-creator Peter Tolan has been tapped to oversee the Greg Kinnear-led drama, about criminal defense lawyer Cleaver Greene (Kinnear), who's "brilliant, iconoclastic and innately self-destructive with a mind-numbing lack of discretion and a total inability to pause before speaking his mind." Peter Duncan, who co-created the original Australian drama, is penning the hour, which has a pilot production commitment. Paul Attanasio was previously attached as the showrunner but had to bow out due to other commitments. Sony Pictures Television and Essential Media are co-producing with Richard Roxburgh and Ian Collie also among the executive producers. (Deadline.com)

SAGA (ABC, New!) - Andrew Miller ("The Secret Circle") has booked a potential drama at the Alphabet about "when the author of a best-selling book series goes missing before she can complete the final installment in her epic fantasy saga, a family of fans discovers she's been kidnapped into the very real world of her books and attempts to rescue her." ABC Studios is behind the hour with Full Fathom Five's James Frey and Todd Cohen and Amblin Television's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank executive producing alongside Miller. (Deadline.com)

TEXAS RISING (History, New!) - Ted Mann ("Hatfields & McCoys") is developing a six-hour mini-series at the cable channel about "the formation and rise of the Texas Rangers, the oldest law enforcement organization in North America." He'll write the potential project with fellow "Hatfields & McCoys" alum Leslie Greif executive producing via his Thinkfactory Media banner. It's understood said effort will cover its origins "triggered by a call-to-arms penned by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 as well as its role during Texas' secession from the U.S. during the Civil War." (Deadline.com)

WHEN THE WOMEN COME OUT TO DANCE (USA) - Bryan Greenberg ("How to Make It in America") and Stephanie Sigman ("Miss Bala") are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about "a Miami businessman (Greenberg) who, contemplating a run for political office, tries to increase his chances of being elected by marrying a Colombian woman (Sigman) who is on the run from her troubled past." Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton are behind the project, which is based Elmore Leonard's short story of the same name. Doug Liman and David Bartis are executive producing via their Universal Cable Productions-based Hypnotic banner alongside Falacci and Heuton. Kevin Bray will helm the pilot, production of which was contingent on casting said leads, with Leonard's granddaughter, Megan Freels, and her producing partner Melanie Donkers serving as consulting producers. (Deadline.com)

BOUNTY BOYS (USA, New!) - Pete Tibbals and Eric Goldberg ("Kickin' It") have sold a potential comedy to the cable channel about "two friends - one who has perfected the slacker lifestyle and the other the ultimate type-A personality - who share an apartment in Venice and take on odd bounty hunting jobs to pay for their activities." They'll write and serve as co-executive producers for Fox Television Studios with Boardwalk Entertainment Group's Gary A. Randall and Timothy Scott Bogart executive producing. (Deadline.com)

LEGACY (FOX, New!) - Jason Ning ("Perception") has landed a potential drama at the network about two cops - Rome McCallan, who is a Texas Ranger, and Aldo Reyes, a Mexican Federale - whose families "have a long and contentious history." Gary A. Randall and Timothy Scott Bogart will executive produce alongside Ning via their Boardwalk Entertainment Group banner for ABC Studios. (Deadline.com)

LIFE HAPPENS! (ABC, New!) - Gary A. Randall and Timothy Scott Bogart have sold a potential dramedy to the Alphabet about "the interconnected lives of people who've become forced friends because their children have become best friends in a community created by the inescapable bond born from all having kids in the same school." ABC Studios is behind the hour, which Bogart will pen off a concept he created with fellow executive producer Randall via their Boardwalk Entertainment Group. (Deadline.com)

NEW GUY (FOX, New!) - Newcomer Shawn Wines has sold a single-camera comedy to the network about "a tragically average guy, living with his trust-fund roommate, across the hall from their beautiful neighbor." Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan is executive produce the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which Wines will write and serve as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)

OPPOSING COUNSEL (NBC, New!) - Gary A. Randall and Timothy Scott Bogart have likewise booked a drama at the network about "two new junior associates, each working for opposing warring civil law firms, which are each led by one half of what used to be the most powerful legal couple in town, who find themselves battling law and love." Bogart once again will write the script based on a concept he created with fellow executive producer Randall for Boardwalk Entertainment Group. ABC Studios is producing. (Deadline.com)

REEDS, THE (The CW, New!) - Tony Spiridakis (FOX's "The Heights") has sold a new drama to the netlet about a family band thrust into the limelight who "must learn how to become stars and deal with all the good and bad that comes with fame, while struggling to keep their family intact." He'll write and executive produce alongside Boardwalk Entertainment Group's Gary A. Randall and Timothy Scott Bogart for CBS Television Studios. (Deadline.com)

BELIEVE (A.K.A. UNTITLED CUARON & FRIEDMAN PROJECT) (NBC) - Casting has begun on Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Friedman's drama pilot, about "a girl in possession of a great gift/powers - which will come into their own in seven years - and the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down." The search for said role - 10-year-old Bo ("innocent and beautiful, a regular girl who has a depth and mystery to her") plus the adult male lead as well as another older character - comes in anticipation of a formal green light. The Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot is behind the hour with the company's J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk executive producing alongside Friedman and Cuarón, the latter of which is attached to direct. (Deadline.com)

DEATH BECOMES HER (Bravo, New!) - Robert Zemeckis is developing a small screen take on his 1992 film, about two rival women (Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn) who both attain eternal youth, a development that only serves to escalate their foibles. Said hour is set up at Universal Cable Productions with Jack Rapke, Jackie Levine and Zemeckis executive producing via his Lupara Productions banner. No writer was indicated. (Variety.com)

HUMAN ERROR (Starz, New!) - British screenwriter Philip Gawthorne is developing a new sci-fi drama at the pay channel about two detectives - one human, one artificial - who are tasked with a seemingly simple case that ultimately leads to a larger conspiracy. Adam Schroeder and Bryan Zuriff will executive produce alongside Gawthorne. No studio was indicated. (THR.com)

TROPHY WIFE (ABC) - Ryan Lee ("Super 8") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about reformed party girl Kate (Malin Akerman), "who finds herself with an insta-family when she falls in love with Brad (Bradley Whitford), a successful charmer with a quirky sense of humor who has three manipulative kids and two judgmental ex-wives (Marcia Gay Harden, Michaela Watkins)." He'll play one of said children in the ABC Studios-based half-hour, which Jason Moore is directing from a script by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins. (Deadline.com)